2013   2014 2015   2016   2017   2018   2019   2020 

Getting bigger, growing stronger

Thanks to the increasing awareness and support we received in 2015 our plans for 2016 included Easter Celebrations, our Christmas Project including a Kiddies Xmas Party, Christmas Day Lunch, Family NYE Party and setting up a daily delivery service for bread and a unique Food Bank Scheme for the residents of Derby.
The Bread Run and Food Bank began
In February, after long negotiations we were awarded two contracts, one from M&S Food to collect and distribute their surplus ambient food which included in house baked bread, scones, patisseries, fruit, vegetables, canned and bottled items on a daily basis.
The second contract allowed us to collect surplus bread and dry bakery products from Birds the Bakers at one location on the outskirts of Derby six days a week.
These contracts allowed us to set the Bread Run (now the Bread Basket) with which we built a network of ‘distributors’ to pass on the food donated.
These contracts allowed us to help over 500 families a week in Derby with food which was collected and delivered on the same day via a network of 40+ ‘distributors’ around Derby, including Alvaston, Allenton, Osmaston, the City Centre, Five Lamps, Littleover, Mickleover, Mackworth, Chaddesden, Spondon and Borrowash.

The Easter Bunny
On Easter Sunday our Easter Bunny(ies) delivered 102 chocolate eggs to chosen children in Derby. None of them knew he was coming and all were very surprised.
On Easter Sunday morning Bob & Mel from Bembridge Convenience Store acting as the Easter Bunny delivered half the eggs in the morning and Kevin donned the bunny suit and delivered the rest in the afternoon. All of the eggs were kindly donated by a very generous person who wishes to remain anonymous and the donation was organised by Sara from BITC. (Business in the Community)
The Food Bank

In September we received a secondary contract from M&S Food to collect ‘cold line products’ including chilled meals, salads, pasta salads, prepared fruit and vegetables and some dairy products.
This contract allowed us to set up the Food Bank Scheme to help elderly and vulnerable residents of Derby, expanding the help we gave to over 1000 people a week. During 2016 we ‘handed out’ over 26,000 ‘food parcels.

The Christmas Project 2016 begins
As we received criticism from some people regarding spending £1000 on a pre Christmas Family Meal so plans for this year changed, so instead we decided to have the following events

Kiddies Christmas Party
On the 17th December we hosted a Kiddies Christmas Party for 82 invited guests at Osmaston Park Community Centre, with party food, presents, Santa and a disco. Presents for our guests were kindly donated by the staff of M&S Intu Derby. the staff at Intu and other local businesses based in Derby. 

Christmas Day Lunch
On Christmas Day we cooked a 4 course Christmas Lunch courtesy of a generous gift of the use of their awesome commercial catering kitchen at the Village Street School.
After transporting it served 102 guests at Osmaston Park Community Centre and included 12 ‘delivered’ meals to guests at home who could not attend the event. All guests received presents from Santa courtesy of the staff at M&S, Intu Derby and other businesses in Intu Derby plus local businesses as well. The food was donated by the school’s suppliers and again from The Waterfall.

New Year’s Eve
Hosted at the 102 Club, Derby we invited 82 guests to join us for a Family Party including a buffet, silly games and a disco and of course we welcomed in the New Year. Surplus buffet was donated to the 102 Clubs members attending their party.
We also paid for taxi’s home for our guests that requested them.
 

Due to the new food contracts and the time involved in collecting and distributing the food fundraising events became a lesser priority but we still had to raise the money to allow the events to take place.

Thank you
Every year what we do grows bigger but without the following support we couldn’t do what we.
This year we want to thank (in no particular order):
M&S Food, Intu, Derby
Neighbourly
Birds the Bakers, Derby
Sara Mitchell and BITC (Business in the Community)
Osmaston Park Community Centre
Village Street School and their suppliers
Jane, Catering Manager at Village Street School
The staff at M&S Intu, Derby
The two anonymous companies who donated the gifts
The 102 Club, Derby
The Waterfall, Derby
Ian @ Pick’N’Mix Sound & Light
Bembridge Convenience Store, Alvaston, Derby
and we cannot forget all of our volunteers throughout the year.
 

The total cost of the items donated this year for the Bread Run and Food Bank Scheme is estimated by M&S Food to be in excess of £300,000 and Birds the Bakers to be in excess of £100,000.
The costs of the events, without donations were calculated to have been £2750 and the actual cost to us was £82 thanks to donations. Additional funds were raised via our special Christmas Raffle and the surplus was set aside for events in 2017.